Tropical Storm Lee has strengthened right into a class 1 hurricane – and will turn into “extremely dangerous” over the weekend because it heads in direction of islands within the Caribbean.
Lee isn’t anticipated to make landfall on a path forecasters imagine will take it close to the northeast of the area.
But the storm is anticipated to trigger swells – highly effective waves within the ocean – with Puerto Rico and the British and US Virgin Islands notably beneath menace.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), winds have been whipping round at 80mph on Thursday and “could increase quickly”, with forecasters warning winds may high 150mph.
By Saturday it’s forecast to peak as a serious hurricane, which is outlined as a storm with winds of at the least 111mph – class 3.
“It has the potential to become a powerhouse category 5 hurricane, the strongest hurricane of the year,” mentioned Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist for AccuWeather.
The hurricane is anticipated to generate life-threatening swells, with the seas round Puerto Rico doubtlessly rising as much as greater than 3m (12ft), in accordance with the National Weather Service within the capital San Juan.
The British Virgin Islands, in the meantime, continues to be recovering from hurricanes Maria and Irma in September 2017.
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There is “increasing confidence” that the attention of the storm won’t make landfall and can as an alternative move northwards past Puerto Rico.
The NHC warns there’s nonetheless a 25% probability of Puerto Rico and close by islands – together with Bermuda and the Bahamas – experiencing “sustained tropical-storm-force winds.”
“The environment around the cyclone looks ideal for rapid intensification,” the NHC mentioned.
“The models are in fairly good agreement that significant strengthening should begin later today and continue into the weekend, when Lee will likely reach its peak intensity.
“Fluctuations in power are seemingly from days three to 5 attributable to potential eyewall replacements, however Lee continues to be anticipated to be a harmful hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic early subsequent week.”
Storms may worsen
The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration warned in August this yr’s season would see the next variety of storms than regular.
Between 14 to 21 named storms are forecast, with six to 11 of these doubtlessly changing into hurricanes and as much as 5 of them even changing into main hurricanes.
AccuWeather has additionally revised forecasts to foretell three to 5 main hurricanes this season, in contrast with one to a few in its earlier evaluation.
Content Source: news.sky.com
